"Buon giorno, princess," he murmurs, voice rough with sleep.
"Good morning," I whisper back.
My body awakens fully, muscles aching in places I'd forgotten could ache. Memories flood back—his hands gripping my hips, his mouth between my thighs, the way he'd commanded my pleasure and I'd surrendered completely. Heat rushes to my cheeks.
I reach up, trailing my fingers along his jaw. The stubble snares my fingertips, a delicious reminder of how that same roughness felt against my inner thighs last night. My body tingles at the memory.
Without thinking I lean forward and press my lips to his. He responds immediately, his hand sliding to cup the back of my neck, pulling me closer. The kiss deepens, his tongue teasing mine in a way that makes my toes curl under the sheets.
When we break apart, his eyes have darkened to near-black. His thumb caresses my bottom lip, still swollen from last night's attention.
"As much as I'd like to continue this," he says, voice strained with restraint, "we need to get moving."
Reality crashes back over me like a bucket of ice water. We're not lovers on a romantic getaway. I'm a fugitive with a USB drive full of evidence against my father and that monster. Alessio is my kidnapper-turned-protector. And somewhere out there, Raymond and my father are hunting us.
I pull back, my hand falling away from his face. "Right. Of course."
I slide out of bed, letting the sheet fall away. The cool morning air tickles my skin as I stand fully exposed. I'm not used to this—being naked in front of someone without feeling self-conscious. But I don't mind him seeing me.
I turn toward the bathroom, feeling Alessio's eyes on me.
"Now that I see that ass again," he growls from behind me, "I might have second thoughts about working before fucking you."
I blink, a smile tugging at my lips. I glance over my shoulder, making sure he gets a good view.
"You said no," I say with mock disappointment. "What a shame."
I deliberately slow my pace, swaying my hips with each step toward the bathroom.
"Fuck me," Alessio mutters.
Before I reach the bathroom door, he's on me. His body heat engulfs me as he pushes me up against the nearest wall. His hard chest presses against my back and I feel his cock hardeningbetween my ass cheeks. One strong hand grips the back of my neck, pinning me gently but firmly against the wall, while his other hand slides between my thighs.
Two fingers push inside me without warning, finding me already wet. I gasp, my body arching back against him instinctively.
His lips brush my ear, his voice dropping to that dangerous tone that makes my knees weak. "I'm going to take you apart piece by piece," he whispers, "then put you back together so you never forget who you belong to."
"Oh god," I moan as Alessio's hands grip my ass, his fingers digging into my flesh.
"Lean forward," he commands, his voice rough with desire. "Hands on the wall."
I comply instantly, pressing my palms against the cool surface, arching my back the way he wants. Behind me I hear the soft thud of his knees hitting the floor. My pulse thunders in anticipation.
The sharp crack of his palm against my ass comes without warning. The sting blooms across my skin, the pain so exquisite it steals my breath. Before I can recover he strikes again on the other cheek, harder this time.
"Alessio!" I cry out, my control slipping away with each burning smack.
His hands spread me open, exposing everything to his gaze. All I feel is desperate need.
"So fucking perfect," he growls.
His teeth sink into the flesh of my ass cheek, not hard enough to break skin but with enough pressure to make me gasp. He soothes the bite with his tongue before moving to the other side, repeating the delicious punishment.
I'm trembling now, my thighs quivering as I struggle to stay upright. My fingernails scrape at the wall, searching for purchase.
Then his tongue—hot, wet, relentless—slides between my folds. I buck against him, unable to control my body's response. He grips my hips tighter, holding me in place as he devours me. His tongue circles my entrance before plunging inside, then moves upward in one long, devastating stroke.
"Please," I whimper, though I'm not sure what I'm begging for.